Guntersville is known for its big bass fishing, and this season is no exception. With prime spots and strategies for catching trophy fish, it’s the ultimate fishing hot spot.
Guntersville has been hot—there’s no other way to put it. Big fish are biting just about every day, and if you saw the results from our Black Friday tournament, you know there were some impressive weights.
A lot of the bigger bags came from using forward-facing sonar, but there were still plenty of anglers pulling over 20 pounds without it.
On the guiding side, while our numbers have slowed a little, the quality is still there—maybe even better than usual for this time of year. The grass remains green and thick, especially in deeper areas, though you might notice some dying off in the shallows.
Our trips have been starting strong, with plenty of bites and solid catches early. Things slow down a bit mid-morning, then pick up again as the day goes on. That said, the recent cold front has definitely put a dent in the bite. We’ve gone from catching 40–50 fish in just a couple of hours to landing a handful—but the upside is they’re bigger on average.
Water temps have dropped below 60°F, and the clarity is excellent—you can see up to 5 feet down in some spots.
On the crappie side
The Crappie bite is heating up. Our two crappie guides report that if you can handle the cold, you’ll have a great time. They’ve found a few areas where the crappie are stacked, and the bite has been consistent, especially early. If you’re interested in a crappie trip, we’ve got you covered—just follow the link! CRAPPIE FISHING CLICK HERE
A Thanksgiving Morning Side Story
After eight years, Cooper and I got back in the boat together. He first fished with me when he was just a little guy, and even then, he caught some big ones. From what he’s told me, that trip got him hooked on fishing.
This Thanksgiving, he was back in town, and since I had Thanksgiving morning open, we decided to hit the water. We braved a brisk 20+ mph wind out of the north-northwest, and just like last time, the big ones came out for him.
We only fished for about three hours before heading in for a quick snack and then off to the Thanksgiving feast, but it was great to catch up. Cooper’s doing awesome—he’s working for Skeeter Boats, fishing the Great Lakes of Texas, and making a name for himself.
One thing I noticed? He’s come a long way in learning how to hold a fish! If you compare pictures from his first trip to now, you can tell he’s a pro at showing them off. Let’s give him a pat on the back for that.
Capt. Jim